tips on technique

4 Ways Jigsaw Puzzles Relate to Writing

My latest addiction is TheJigsawPuzzles.com. As a child I enjoyed working jigsaw puzzles with my mom and grandmother, but with an active family and 5 cats I’ve never had a safe spot to lay out the pieces of a traditional puzzle in my own home. Problem solved! With virtual puzzles, I don’t have to worry about losing pieces or keeping tiny feet from destroying hours of work. And puzzles can be a lot of work.

Putting together jigsaw puzzles may seem a wasteful use of time to some people but it has helped me get a clearer focus on my writing goals. Here are 4 analogies I’ve noted regarding jigsaw puzzles and effective writing techniques.

1. Working on a project I truly enjoy makes it easier to get through the difficult parts.

Whether it’s a puzzle or a story/article, if I’m not interested in the subject matter and hit a rough patch, it’s tempting to quit. External motivations such as money or praise from others may help, but the internal satisfaction I get from doing something I enjoy is often the primary factor in achieving my goals

I choose puzzles that fit my mood, and sometimes they involve lots of colors and unfamiliar subject matter. Having a picture of the completed puzzle to refer to as I work helps me organize the pieces and determine their approximate placement when I get stuck. The same holds true with my writing. I’m not a strict outliner, but knowing the basic story and key plot points or talking points helps me stay focused on the end result.

3. Breaking the project down into smaller components keeps it from being overwhelming and provides structure for areas that may be ill-defined.

The larger the puzzle the harder it feels, but there are ways to make things more manageable. Putting together the outside pieces first is very helpful, providing a framework and a place to start building connections as well as reducing the number of loose pieces I have to deal with. It hints at what goes in each area, so when I’m sorting through the remaining pieces I have a general idea of where they may belong.

When an idea or scene doesn’t seem to fit what I’m currently working on, setting it aside until the writing project is further along may help clarify where it should go. In the same way, formulating the beginning and end of a chapter, scene, or paragraph helps determine what is needed in the middle.

4. Knowing the basics of how things work and customizing the process to fit my needs increases the likelihood of achieving my goals.

Each puzzle site I’ve visited operates in a slightly different way, and it took a while to learn how to navigate them comfortably. The online site I like best lets me see a picture of the complete puzzle as I work, has a button that lets me automatically separate the edge pieces from the others, has a timer I can use to pace myself, and lets me choose how many pieces I want the puzzle to contain and the style of the cuts. By customizing a puzzle to fit my interests and abilities I don’t get overwhelmed with something I’m not capable of handling. With practice, my skills improve and I’m able to take on more complex puzzles. I’ve also learned how to upload my own pictures and turn them into custom puzzles to share with friends.

The process of becoming a successful writer requires an understanding of how the writing and publishing process works, and also requires some customization to meet our individual needs. Each of us has different experiences and skills, so our roadmaps to success may follow different routes. Being aware of our strengths and weaknesses can help us figure out where we need additional help to achieve our goals, and we can work on those areas first in order to maximize our chance of success. When writing, knowing where to look for help with grammar issues, being aware of the proper format for the type of writing we are doing, and understanding how to use the basic features of our word processing program will make writing projects less stressful and more professional in appearance. Understanding how agents and editors expect us to submit our work to them, and following their guidelines, will give our submissions an advantage over our less-knowledgeable competitors.

Do you enjoy working jigsaw puzzles? What is your favorite way to “waste” time? What writing resources do you recommend for people who might be struggling down the road to success?

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8 Responses

Hi, Carol. I enjoyed the article. It always amazes me how you are able to find the corollaries between various activities and writing. Afraid I’m not much on jigsaw puzzles, but the parallels to writing are amazing.

Hi Carol, so good to see you posting again :-) I agree with Jon, it is amazing how you linked everything together. I used to love doing jigsaws with my siblings and then my son. But it’s been forever since I’ve done a real one. (I’ve worked on those giant piece religious puzzels with my mom. ) I always start with the corners and usually I get done pretty fast. :-)

Hi, Elizabeth. I haven’t worked a real jigsaw puzzle in several years either. My mom used to keep one going on her kitchen table, and everyone who visited would help put in the pieces. It was a tradition her mom and dad dstarted. My kids were never interested in doing puzzles–not enough action!:)

I love jigsaw puzzles but haven’t done one for years. When I’ve got one on the go I find it difficult to tear myself away. It’s very time consuming. But now that the idea is in my head…. winter might be a great time to start one. :)

Hi, Laura. Sorry I didn’t respond earlier. I’ve been dealing with some family issues.
Jigsaw puzzles are definitely time consuming, but I also find them relaxing. I can think about other things while working one, or do it a few pieces at a time, so I don’t consider it wasting time. :)

Thanks for stopping by. I will be making my blog-reading rounds soon and will visit yours to see what I’ve been missing. I always enjoy reading your posts.